A Reflection on Service at Street Roots
By Maggie Schroeder (she/her) Portland Mac, OR ‘23-24
My own story at Street Roots began when I moved to Portland as Street Roots’ Jesuit Volunteer AmeriCorps member. When I packed my bags in August 2023, I knew exactly zero Portlanders by name. But over the weeks of my orientation to Portland and to Street Roots, I found my footing in the Street Roots community. I learned nicknames and badge numbers, coffee orders and traditions. I leaned on the expertise of vendors who helped me find my bus routes on the first day, who taught me Portland’s quadrant structure and bridges, and who corrected my pronunciations of “Couch” and “Willamette.” As my daily interactions in the office stacked up, I began to recognize and be recognized by vendors selling the paper around the city. Today, Street Roots’ 200+ active vendors represent the vast majority of my Portland community.
When I call my family, they ask what I like about my service. My response is lightning-quick: “The people. By far, the people and the relationships are the best part,” I say. This week, I learned that I’m not alone in that sentiment.
Outside the Alberta Co-op grocery store, Dumpsta D enjoys connecting with customers through witty conversation. By the Safeway in Southwest, Gail says hello to every passerby. At the Portland State University Farmers Market, Roger is glad for all the interesting people he meets. By the Goodwill on Broadway, Makavalie holds his customers’ stories and struggles: “[Readers] tell me their problems, as if I can help. It makes me feel good… Vendors get people to open up to them because people don’t have nobody to talk to,” he said.
Each vendor I interviewed shared a similar story: The people are the best part. Together, Street Roots’ vendors, readers, supporters and staff are a community. We care about each other, and we carry the stories and values of this community together. It’s an idea that reflects Street Roots’ core values of relation, which ask us to build solidarity by knowing each other across differences. For me, it’s a privilege and a joy to share in this community and its stories. Especially in recent weeks, I have seen the dedication and creativity of Street Roots vendors at work. Whether it’s the Flight Crew’s projects, the poetry workshop’s stanzas, or the jokes and papers passed across the desk, my daily encounters at Street Roots leave me feeling fulfilled, challenged, hopeful and curious all at once. My service term ends in August, and the “What I Carry” photography project has me wondering what I will carry after my time as Street Roots’ Jesuit Volunteer has concluded.
I imagine I’ll carry the daily early-morning greetings from vendors waiting outside the office. I’ve never liked the taste of coffee, but I’d like to stow away the quiet connection that brews when pouring a cup for someone across a counter. I’ll carry trivia learned from solving crossword puzzles with vendors in the office. I’ll carry a tune: “King of The Road,” a favorite song among vendors.
I’ll carry the enthusiasm of Flight Crew, the team of vendors working to repurpose old furniture for our new space. When they come back from a day of construction work, these vendors bring a special celebratory energy back with them.
I’ll pack a commitment to learning more, sharing knowledge, and asking good questions. Whether it’s new vendors attending orientation, longtime vendors learning at our recent tax workshops, Street Roots journalists writing top-notch investigative stories or office visitors seeking Rose City Resource guides, I’m energized by our community’s commitment to continuous learning.
Certainly, I’d like to bring with me the artistry, thoughtfulness and vulnerability of the creative writing workshop community. To everyone who has submitted a poem, sat in on a workshop, or supported a writer with words of encouragement: thank you. I am happiest here when I am reading, writing and creating alongside vendors, and I’m proud of our group for crafting such an uplifting, inclusive and growth-oriented space.
I’ll fold up our collective excitement about Street Roots’ new building. Just recently, a vendor team began training to lead tours of the space. This team will share with our wider community how our building will strengthen Street Roots’ resources and mission. Alongside vendors featured on page 10, I eagerly await our first day of Street Roots at Northwest Third Avenue and West Burnside Street.
I’ll carry the paper stories published weekly in Street Roots, and I’ll carry the lived stories shared by vendors navigating the challenges of systemic injustice. I’ll hold onto hope that even more vendors experience even more wins.
I am certain my packing list will continue to grow. Already, I could annotate a whole photo album with stories and memories; I’ve felt grateful to know and be known by such an amazing community. More than anything else, I will carry the people, the relationships, and the stories of this place. There is always enough room.
Founded in 1999, Street Roots is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization in Portland, Oregon, that publishes a weekly social justice newspaper sold by people experiencing homelessness and poverty to earn an income. Street Roots is a member of the International Network of Street Papers, which includes more than 110 similar but independent publications in 30 countries worldwide. Learn more at streetroots.org.
Pictured: on the left, Maggie organized a poetry reading. Douglas “Wookie” Marcks read his poetry to the assembled crowd. On the right, the ’23-24 Portland Mac JV Community.
